< Cape Blanco led home a 1-2-3 for Ballydoyle as Aidan O'Brien landed his fifth consecutive Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh, and his eighth in all.
Johnny Murtagh settled the 7-2 shot in fourth place through most of the Classic and moved up to challenge in the straight, where his stablemate Midas Touch took over the lead.< Jan Vermeer emerged from the rear to throw down his own claim and the three Ballydoyle horses had the finish to themselves as the favourite Monterosso struggled to get to them.
It was Cape Blanco who proved the strongest, Murtagh forcing him ahead in the final 100 yards to beat Midas Touch by half a length, with Jan Vermeer third.
The jockey had emerged unscathed in the opening Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises EBF Maiden after a dramatic incident two furlongs out when favourite Petronius Maximus fell. Fortunately Murtagh walked away fine, and the race went to David Wachman's Sydney Harbour (4-1).
The jockey showed there were no ill-effects when he led all the way on Emperor Claudius (2-1 favourite) to take the Listed Woodies DIY Celebration Stakes by a cosy half-length for O'Brien.
The Jeremy Noseda-trained Formosina (7-2) arrived late on the scene to win a thrilling contest for the Group Two ladbrokes.com Railway Stakes.< Samuel Morse led at halfway and was pressed by Clondinnery through the final furlong, but Formosina was in hot pursuit and Ryan Moore's mount grabbed the verdict by a short head in the shadow of the post.
Kieren Fallon made the most of his rails draw in stall one to lead all the way in the Dubai Duty Free Sapphire Stakes on another British raider, 16-1 shot Glamorous Spirit
The Ron Harris-trained filly was smartly away in the Group Three event and having shaken off Piccadilly Filly had enough in the locker to resist the veteran Reverence by half a length.
Trainer Mark Johnston missed out with Monterosso in the big race but notched a handicap double in the same colours through the Frankie Dettori-ridden Sea Lord (4-1 favourite) and Joe Fanning's mount Bay W
